Pools are supposed to be fun but not in Laguna Beach.
School and city officials have been politely bickering over new pool plans. The school district wants a deluxe pool complex, but the city just wants enough pool to make everyone happy.
So after several months of meetings, the two groups are going their separate ways. Laguna, one of the smallest cities in the county, will have two impressive pools.
The school officials approved an Olympic-sized, 50-meter pool while the city is now looking at something half that size but with user-friendly amenities for youth sports, lap swimmers, senior programs and, of course, a kiddie pool. The most likely site would be the recently acquired St. Catherine of Siena Parish School, but the details are far from set.
Meanwhile, members of the community group Sensible Laguna have been trying to broker a reasonable compromise that would not be too expensive or unnecessary.
With a declining student population and changing USA Water Polo rules, a 35-meter pool would be just fine, they said, and less problematic.
The school’s proposal is part of a $150 million facilities master plan, of which the new pool project is the centerpiece.
One irony is that the city has been paying for most of the school’s ongoing pool expenses.
“Consider that the city already pays 97% of total operating costs at the current pool and it also handles staffing, scheduling, maintenance and management too,” said Sensible Laguna. “A 50-meter, $19 million pool for only student use is excessive and unnecessary spending.”
The city estimates that its new community pool will cost about $10 million to $13 million to build, plus annual support.
So at some point in the future, look for two new pools to enjoy while you look out over the largest pool in the world, the Pacific Ocean.
Perhaps they will make them infinity pools.
